Interesting twist (Veal, Banks, Saras)

[BCHISTORIAN]

you are not nuts. i would take banks over west as well. therefore you can't be nuts ;D

[DERRENMATTS]

You ARE nuts ( ;D ), but not because you'd choose Banks over West.

I'd take West over Banks. West is not the ideal PG for me, but if its Ainge's plan to make our backcourt PG-less, and instead use 2 backcourt players who can handle the ball handling duties, makes sound decisions, and hit the open shots (ala the 80's Celtics basketball), then Delonte is going to fit in better than Banks. Plus, Banks makes a much better sparkplug off the bench, and seeing how effective Ricky made this position, I'd like to give our bench another instanting scoring option by using Banks there.

[eja117]

I guess I'd agree if we go with the PGless team, which I'm not sure is a great idea.

[cfoo]

Ive been thinking about that Derren, and as much as I think a team can function without a pg, Im not sure I like it. In order to function well everyone needs to be that much better. For that to work it's really going to take a lot. After getting on this Sarunas kick I think I realized how I envision this team and it requires a pg. not necessarily a great pg, but at least someone in tthe mix that can find people and take the load off the other guys when they need it. Still searching for that guy....

[DERRENMATTS]

I'm the same way, guys. My ideal team would be centered around a PG who gets the ball into the hands of the scorers. My era of basketball was Kevin Johnson and John Stockton (who came after Magic Johnson and Isaiah Thomas), and now there's Jason Kidd and Steve Nash.

But Ainge won championships with teams who played without a true PG, and that may be what he's going after. And like you said, CF, this means that all the players have to step their games up and become smarter players who have the ability to pass the ball to the right player at the right time.

[eja117]

I guess my era was Kidd and Iverson and Nash with a little C Billups. I guess my era started in 95

[Ossric]

Derren, i guess i'm from your "era". Kevin Johnson, Stockton, Tim Hardaway for a couple of years

you could even add Terry Porter & Mookie Blaylock, Mark Jackson & Gary Payton

[DERRENMATTS]

Yeah, but I'm trying to list the "good" players, Oss ;D Mookie and Mark Jackson are guys I wouldn't mention.

But even Terry Porter, who played PG for the Trailblazers when Ainge was still playing, was not your typical PG. The Blazers were also a PG-less team, but they were successful because the guys on that team were unselfish and productive players. Jerome Kersey, Buck Williams, Kevin Duckworth, Cliff Robinson, Clyde Drexler, Terry Porter, Danny Ainge, etc. They were all team players.

[ferbo]

Dare I say Cousy?

[DERRENMATTS]

ferbo said:

Dare I say Cousy?

Who's that?

[Roadrunner]

I can't be certain if we have not attained a PG, because of Danny's vision, or lack of availability. I think alot of folks have counted Banks out already. Give him a chance. Last year, year #1 in my book for him. Let's see how he pans out this season.

[DERRENMATTS]

I'm one of those who have been on Banks' case. Even in that draft he was drafted in, I had like 4 other PG's in front of him I hoped we would draft (TJ, Kirk, Ridnour, Jameer).

I'm pretty specific in the type of players I like. I like players who know what they want to do with the basketball. I like decisive players. The only time Banks shows decisiveness is when he's looking to score. And if this is his role, I think he can shine.

But from a PG's standpoint, Banks doesn't show decisiveness. I think Will Bynum has more decisiveness than he does.

So Ainge needs to make a decision. If he's going to hold onto Banks, make him into an offensive weapon and a defensive specialist. But trying to change his stripes and make him into a passing PG is jsut taking away his real abilities. I think Tony Allen can create plays for his teammates better than Banks can.

[Celtic17]

One more time.
I can live with the 3 PGs we have.


Trade deadline my come into play, to move up in next years draft, with one of these guys.

[Jambr380]

Banks is a pretty precious commodity that most teams don't have...his explosiveness and defensive play are important for a bench player. He may have the ability to be a starter in this league, but I LOVE him as our primary backup pg. Whoever is in front of him will just fall into place...If we trade him for Scala, that will be even more of a slap in the face.

[Celtic17]

jambr380 said:

If we trade him for Scala, that will be even more of a slap in the face.

I agree Jambr...

Good to see ya Greeniac.